What's not to like, right? We all love a good WWII story; the 2nd World War kicks the 1st World War's ass, as far as on-screen appeal goes. It was a time on the verge between modern & archaic, a war against a solid evil, a "glorious" American-led fight that left the trenches behind and exposed itself in the open field of battle. If that doesn't get your red-blooded heart pumping I don't know what will. The point is, WWII made for good cinema, regardless of how terrible being on the front lines actually was. As an audience, we love to watch the USA fight Nazi Germany; it feels very one-sided, good vs bad, like we were destined to win. And would we l...Read the entire review

The war film has gone through a lot over the years. As more filmmakers continue to experiment with different stories, often involving our history, we're asked to view it from a different perspective. However, a large number of these pictures happen to take place during World War II. While some of these features prove to be pieces of cinematic brilliance, others come across as an absurdly superficial representation of war. Now, it's writer/director David Ayer's turn to strive for excellence in this ever-expanding genre. The filmmaker behind pictures such as End of Watch has definitely crafted something memorable with his incredible ability to have us sitting at the edge of our seats. However, it leaves us with something to be desired on the emotional side of things.Read the entire review
]]> 22 Jump StreetTheatricalhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=64916
Fri, 13 Jun 2014 17:38:10 PDTSkip It

Before seeing 22 Jump Street, you had better see 21. Often the sequel isn't exactly reliant on the original, but in this series the second plays heavily off the first. And it's worth your time to go back, to check out the one that started the franchise, the film that launched itself off the classic TV series. It's a funny movie; not too much more can be said about it. It's not wonderful, but it gets plenty of laughs, relying on two pretty hilarious guys and some cool side characters to keep you chuckling throughout. So watch the first one; I'd recommend it to anyone who likes slapstick, drug use, easy comedy. But don...Read the entire review

In 2012, directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller released their hit comedy 21 Jump Street. This comedy remains to be a hysterical motion picture that delivers a high laugh-per-minute ratio. This is a very difficult feat to achieve, since most comedies try too hard to win our affection. It's when a film makes it seem easy is when the magic strikes us. Lord and Miller are most certainly becoming forces to reckon with in Hollywood, as they manage to keep the laughs coming with one feature after another. Yet, it's no secret that sequels, especially those in this genre, are generally disappointing. One of the key elements to 22 Jump Street's success is how self-aware it is. The writers take this knowledge and use it as motivation.

Those who have heard the story about Pompeii know that it's actually quite intriguing to learn about. However, I'm having difficulty finding the reasoning behind making this into a full-length motion picture. There's absolutely no explanation other than to have an excuse to catch the attention of the masses with a huge amount of CG work during the eruption sequence. I'm pretty sure that's the exact point that got this green lit. If that wasn't bad enough, why not add a filmmaker who is known for putting motion pictures on the big screen that have viewers "face-palming" around the world? That man is Paul W.S. Anderson, and he's the individual responsible for bringing us flicks such as AVP: Alien vs. Predator, Resident Evil, and The Three Musketeers. If you'...Read the entire review
]]> The Monuments MenTheatricalhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=63717
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 13:56:13 PSTRent It

I guess it was just too good to be true. When I first saw the trailer for The Monuments Men I was sure it would be a home run. How could it fail, right? One of the best cast lists I've ever seen, an incredibly captivating setting, a little humor to lighten the heavy mood. The film had Oscar written all over it, until people starting seeing it. Then the wide release was pushed back, the buzz surrounding the project started sounding more like boos, and every trailer I saw for it, other than the initial teaser, make the movie look worse and worse. But I was already pot-committed, a...Read the entire review

Regardless of whether you're aware of the fact or not, action films can have messages that audiences can relate to. While some of them are only about the huge explosions, - I'm looking at you Transformers franchise - others have actual social commentary that go along with the violence. A perfect example of this is the 1987 classic known as RoboCop. It caught the attention of moviegoers everywhere with its shocking depiction of brutal and graphic violence. However, it was anything but pointless. In fact, it created a conversation about how violent we are as a society, and how politics affect it. This sci-fi action motion picture has become a favorite of many film buffs around the globe, so it isn't very surprising that Columbia Pictures wanted to create a remake i...Read the entire review
]]> The Monuments MenTheatricalhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=63019
Thu, 06 Feb 2014 18:45:07 PSTHighly Recommended

George Clooney has long been considered the last great movie star, the true heir to the suave mantle of classic Hollywood actors like Cary Grant and William Holden. It should be no surprise then, that as a director, he has increasingly gravitated toward projects that hearken back to the Golden Age of moviemaking. Clooney is consistently bold in his acting choices, including extended relationships with both Steven Soderbergh and the Coen Bros.--and even there, he participated in Soderberg's Casablanca-riff The Good German and worked with the Coens on the Preston SturgesRead the entire review

Some films get their release dates pushed back for various reasons. However, it's never a good impression to make with moviegoers. Whether reshoots are required or post-production is taking longer than expected, it usually implies that the film has problems. In the case of The Monuments Men, it was because the special effects weren't entirely finished, so the filmmakers requested for more time and to have it released in February 2014 rather than December 2013. Columbia Pictures was clearly hoping to aim for award season, so I'm betting that they were a bit disappointed when they had to push the release date back. How did the filmmakers manage to achieve this? Well, you can do almost anything you want when George Clooney assumes writer/director/producer/actor roles for t...Read the entire review
]]> American HustleTheatricalhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=62891
Mon, 30 Dec 2013 20:51:29 PSTHighly Recommended

This was the movie that I was the most excited about the entire year. After all, it had all the parts in place to be a phenomenal film. David O. Russell has proven that he is a great director with movies like The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook. They were Oscar caliber, audience favorites, and strong all-around. The actors are a mix of proven veterans and up-and-coming talent: Bale & Adams having worked together in The Fighter, Cooper & Lawrence the dramatic duo of Silver Linings Playbook. Add Jeremy Renner to the mix, an awesome 70s soundtrack, a cool con vibe, and ...Read the entire review

There are two ways in which we generally use the word "hustle" these days. In one sense, to hustle someone is to trick or con them; in the other sense, it is to give it a lot of effort, to keep moving, and make things happen. Luckily, a third meaning, a dance from the disco era, has mostly disappeared--though, it does make for a pretty impressive scene in David O. Russell's newest movie, American Hustle. The disco perennial actually makes this movie three for three, meaning the director's follow-up to Silver Linings Playbook is a wily creature, one that moves swiftly and goes all over the place to tell a big story about some genuine United States hucksters.

It feels as if this past year has been picked up and swept away by a powerful gust of wind. It has been an entire year since Silver Linings Playbook was released. Regardless, it's officially that time of year again! I'm not talking about Christmas, but about "Oscar season." This is when distributors begin releasing films as close to the Academy Awards as possible. While they want to give audiences time to see it before the awards, they want their film to be fresh on the silver screen when the voters begin to submit their ballots. Columbia Pictures will be distributing David O. Russell's American Hustle in limited release on December 13th, which will see a nationwide expansion on December 20th. Nobody is denying the inevitable truth that this picture is a lock for...Read the entire review
]]> Captain PhillipsTheatricalhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=61794
Thu, 10 Oct 2013 17:01:46 PDTHighly Recommended

What Gravity was to being lost in space, Captain Phillips is to being lost at sea. Or, at least, hijacked. (That upcoming Robert Redford movie, All is Lost, is the one about really being lost at sea.)

It's not an entirely facetious comparison. If you've yet to recover from the intensity of Alfonso Cuar n's astro thriller, you might want to consult a doctor before seeing Paul Greengrass' clenched-tight Tom Hanks vehicle.

Captain Phillips is based on a true story from 2009 about an American cargo ship being taken over by Somali pirates. Hanks leads the picture as the Captain, and outside of a couple of character actors with very small roles, is the only recognizable face in ...Read the entire review

When it comes to filmmaking, there aren't very many things more powerful than when a feature is able to put a knot in your stomach. A lot of motion pictures require suspension of disbelief, but the element of reality has the ability to hit much harder. Even though Captain Phillips is a Hollywood feature, it still possesses quite a bit more oomph than the majority of the big thrillers that hit the silver screen each year. Director Paul Greengrass has been involved in his share of action flicks, but this type of intensity is rarely handled in Hollywood. However, this time it isn't a fictitious story, but is based upon a true story. A lot of audiences will compare this to Denmark's A Hijacking, but it shouldn't surprise you that this isn't as good. Regardless, you s...Read the entire review
]]> ElysiumTheatricalhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=61450
Wed, 14 Aug 2013 16:37:36 PDTRent It

You can't talk about Elysium without first talking about District 9. Done four years ago, it was Neill Blomkamp's first feature film, and it was an amazing success. It got great reviews from both critics & audiences, and I really liked it. It was such an original way to make a point, using aliens to represent apartheid in South Africa, forcing the main character to physically transform, making audiences watch some horrible reality. Sound familiar? If you've heard much about Elysium you'll recognize a very similar plot and message; class warfare, metamorphosis, sci-fi action. The two movies have a ton in common, which...Read the entire review

In 2009, writer/director Neill Blomkamp brought us the science fiction hit District 9. This genre isn't particularly my favorite, but I have always enjoyed the dynamics of a motion picture that explores a corrupt society. Blomkamp's newest picture Elysium most certainly carries some elements that have previously been explored, but this post-apocalyptic film has some tricks of its own. However, they're in short supply, as the majority of them have been utilized by several other filmmakers. Regardless of the movie's lack of originality, it's still able to entertain and keep its audience invested in the lead character. While this isn't the masterpiece that some moviegoers were hoping for, it still manages to be a worthwhile feature.

Set in the year 2154, the ...Read the entire review
]]> This Is the EndTheatricalhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=61336
Thu, 25 Jul 2013 12:51:23 PDTHighly Recommended

When the trailer for This Is the End first came out I thought it looked pretty funny. I figured if you liked Superbad, which I did, you'd like this one as well. It has some of the same actors (Rogen, Hill, Cera) and the same style of raunchy comedy that revolves around bodily fluids and recreational drugs. However, a major difference would be that in this movie the actors play themselves, with a ton of cameos thrown in for good measure. So while I assumed that I'd find it funny, I also thought that it would fall short of better movies because it would lack that emotional base that we don't always notice but we usually need...Read the entire review

It took director Troy Duffy ten years to make a sequel to his cult hit The Boondock Saints, which hardly saw a theatrical release in 1999 but made over $50 million in video sales and rentals. The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day is only the director's second film; the direct result of the explosive backlash to Duffy's obnoxious behavior after scoring a high-profile deal with M...Read the entire review

If the apocalypse were to take place, different people around the world would surely have varied reactions. Some would commit horrible crimes such as murder, while others would seek shelter with their closest friends and family members. The realization of the end of the world would be a shock to many, which could drive some to insanity. This Is the End explores how a group of celebrities deal with the apocalypse. However, they aren't all the closest of friends, as a few of them are complete enemies. This works as an excellent vehicle for a hysterical comedy, especially since the celebrities are playing themselves. The narrative itself might not entirely hold up, but it works in delivering laugh-out-loud gags that make it worth every penny of your admission ticket.Read the entire review
]]> After EarthTheatricalhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=61172
Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:44:39 PDTSkip It

It all started with Jaden Smith narrating with a Southern accent. I'm not kidding. I wish I was, because it was perhaps the worst fake accent I've ever heard, with Will Smith's being a close second. I have no idea why they decided to try something so stupid; perhaps it had something to do with the Ranger Corps that saved humanity in the story, but it doesn't matter. Whatever the reason, it was a bad idea, as was almost ever single idea in the entire movie. When I first saw the trailer I was excited. I wanted Shyamalan to get back to directing good movies, I wanted Will Smith to be cool like he used to be, and I wanted an awesome sci-fi movie about evolut...Read the entire review

]]> After EarthTheatricalhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=61159
Thu, 30 May 2013 19:49:22 PDTRent It

Now that we're approaching June, Hollywood's bigger films will begin to hit theaters one after another. The next big summer blockbuster on the list for 2013 is M. Night Shyamalan's After Earth, starring Will Smith and his son, Jaden. Shyamalan hasn't made a worthwhile film in multiple years. With motion pictures such as The Happening and The Village, he has made a bad name for himself among moviegoers. When his name is attached to a project, a reasonable reaction would be to run away and avoid whatever he's bringing to the silver screen. His newest film isn't very impressive, but it's entertaining enough. Whether you're going as a fan of Will Smith or still have hope that this filmmaker can make something of worth, this movie doesn't entirely deliver. It's...Read the entire review
]]> After EarthTheatricalhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=61160
Thu, 30 May 2013 19:49:22 PDTSkip It

Welcome the summer that belongs to the apocalypse - Seth Rogen and friends are lining up to die at James Franco's house, Tom Cruise is defending a barren wasteland against formidable foes, aliens will topple cities as they fight giant robots, and Matt Damon is going to wear half an Iron Man suit so he can tell the upper class where to stick it. With the exception of Star Trek however, most people are likely to gravitate towards After Earth, and why not? It stars sci-fi blockbuster veteran Will Smith, and people are undoubtedly curious to see his son Jaden in a major role (no, The Karate Kid doesn't count). Of course, people may think twice about spending their hard earned coin on a ticket if they knew that M. Night Shyamalan was the man behind the camera, and seemingly knowing this to be a detriment, Columbia Pictures deliberately left his name absent from the marketing c...Read the entire review

After around 30 years, horror fans continue to rejoice Sam Raimi's creation called The Evil Dead. This 1981 genre classic has stuck in viewers' minds for many years, and it has aged well. Nobody ever claimed the story is deep or that the characters are great, but it has always been able to accomplish its goals as a horror flick. It scared, shocked, and entertained audiences around the world, while developing an enormous following. In 2013, Hollywood itself is taking a shot at remaking it, but with the cleaner title of Evil Dead. My biggest concern with this announcement was that the material would be watered down for younger audiences in order to have access to a larger box office sum. However, Tri-Star appears to be glad with releasing an incredibly violent film...Read the entire review
]]> The Call (2013)Theatricalhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=60022
Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:58:14 PDTRent It

As a huge fan of filmmaking, I have always been a full-fledged supporter of original motion pictures. In an industry filled with sequels, remakes, and prequels, it's always refreshing to see a stand-alone feature. Director Brad Anderson's The Call might have had an uninspired marketing campaign, but I was interested to see how this concept would be transferred to the big screen. We've all seen movies about police officers, but it isn't very often we get the chance to witness the situations from the perspective of the 911 operator. These people on the other end of the phone line are absolutely crucial to our society and ensuring that we get help when we need it. The job must take an incredible toll, especially after being involved in a call that ended poorly. The Call...Read the entire review
]]> Zero Dark ThirtyTheatricalhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=59089
Tue, 18 Dec 2012 17:20:15 PSTDVD Talk Collector Series

The movie industry is always changing with a large amount of films being released each year. Some people have difficulty keeping up with the new releases and with what they should see, since a lot of people have busy schedules. While there are several great movies every year, there's always a few releases that are classified as absolute must-see motion pictures. Zero Dark Thirty is on the very top of that list for the year of 2012. Director Kathryn Bigelow has made a film that easily surpasses her acclaimed picture The Hurt Locker. It's being released on December 19th in limited theaters, but is going wide on January 11th, 2013.

Maya (Jessica Chastain) is a young talent that Washington has sent to help in the chronicle of the hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist le...Read the entire review
]]> SkyfallTheatricalhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=58762
Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:16:18 PSTHighly Recommended

James Bond may be one of the longest-running film franchises in the world, but it's also one of the best. While some entries are much better than others, they're some of the greatest action movies ever created. In 2006, Columbia Pictures decided to modernize the franchise with Casino Royale. Numerous actors have been in the leading role, but Daniel Craig has proven to be an excellent choice for this generation. After the film's success, a sequel of lesser quality was released in 2008 called Quantum of Solace. Fast forward to 2012, Craig's third feature is being released under the title Skyfall. This action film hits nearly every mark and will surely be loved and appreciated by audiences around the world.

As much as those behind Total Recall would like to have audiences think that this is a successful re-imagining and modernization of the original from 1990, the product speaks for itself. This is a remake that attempts to make tweaks to the original, many of which don't make sense. One of the most predictable moves made was making this a watered down PG-13 flick, removing a lot of the heart of the story, as well as the violence found during some of the fight sequences. This is one loud and stupid remake that tries to entice audiences with nothing more than its visuals.

The planet has been destroyed by nuclear war, which leaves only two nations, which are known as the United Federation of Britain and the Colony. Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell) is a factory worker wit...Read the entire review
]]> Total Recall (2012)Theatricalhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=57319
Thu, 02 Aug 2012 17:33:27 PDTRecommended

Yes, yet another Hollywood remake of a film that's not even that old, but relax: Paul Verhoeven's 1990 version of Total Recallis probably not as good as you remember and Underworld mastermind Len Wiseman's 2012 redo is better than you probably expect it to be. Somewhere in the middle is justification for going to this well again. Besides, neither film is much like Philip K. Dick's 1966 short story upon which both are based. Purity of vision is as murky as Douglas Quaid's memory.

In this spin around the block, the Quaid role passes from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Colin Farrell, and the action moves from Mars back ...Read the entire review

There are few things this world needs less than a remake of Total Recall, and walking in with that skepticism (and its resultant low expectations) actually works in the favor of Les Wiseman's new remake, which surprises merely by the act of not being terrible. Sure, the set-up is clunky and the climax is a mess, and though it seems inconceivable, they've managed to make a movie that diverges from the 1990 original yet still isn't a proper adaptation of the Philip K. Dick story they're both ostensibly based on. But if you put all those issues aside, there's about an hour in the middle of this Total Recall that is, plain and simple, crackerjack action filmmaking, and that's a rare enough commodity that it's worth noting.

Is The Amazing Spider-Man a reboot of a franchise or aremake of astill recent and much loved film series? That seems to be the mainquestion existingon everyone's minds. Either way, tons of people consider the factthismovie was even made to be entirely pointless. Why should anyone evenmess withsomething that was already done so well?&nbsp;For the executives at Sony, making another Read the entire review

Finally, Hollywood has done something original. Have you heard of this Amazing Spider-Man thing? It's all about this guy, a nerdy teen, who gets bitten by some kind of weird genetically altered spider and he starts to have spider-like abilities. At first he just goofs around with them--when he's not moping, because, as I said, he's a teenager--but when bad things happen to people close to him because he's goofing around, he puts on red-and-blue tights and starts fighting crime. I don't think anything like this has ever been done before.

Except, of course, it has. There's been plenty of Spider-Man on both the big and small screens in recent memory. Like a lot of folks, I was fairly irritated with the news that they were rebooting the franchise already. Wh...Read the entire review

]]> Men in Black III (3D)Theatricalhttp://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=56238
Thu, 24 May 2012 18:50:00 PDTSkip It

In the same way most of the food in our supermarkets is some kind of processed corn rather than the tasty sustenance it purports to be, Men in Black III is a slickly produced, but ultimately inauthentic packaging of processed entertainment. Corn and all. It's been more than a decade since the last entry in the franchise, and to call this one long in the tooth would be kind. There are none of the original teeth left in its mouth. Those are CGI dentures. With corn stuck in them. It all comes back to corn.

For those who didn't see the trailer, the plot of Men in Black III goes this way: Agent K (played, one would guess, reluctantly by Tommy Lee Jones) once upon a time saved the Earf from a rampaging alien, causing the extinction of that creature's race. Forty years...Read the entire review

If it offered nothing else to be thankful for, one could applaud Phil Lord and Chris Miller's 21 Jump Street for giving us the most meta movie moment in recent memory. It comes early, when young cops Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) are being reprimanded by their captain (Nick Offerman) for blowing an arrest by not reading the suspect his Miranda rights. (Jenko, not the brightest bulb, can't remember them: "They always cut away on TV before they finish 'em"). They're being reassigned, their boss tells them. "They're reviving a cancelled undercover police program from the '80s and reinventing it for a new generation," he explains, primarily because they'...Read the entire review

The screenshots in this review are from the DVD release.

The MovieThere seems to be three ways to approach a movie adaptation of a TV show. Either you do a straight adaptation, which appeals to the show's fans but risks alienating new audiences, re-invent it entirely, so it appeals to a wider audience but is mostly unrecognizable to older fans, or have fun with the concept and create something new and fresh. Of c...Read the entire review

Wait, wait...I got it: "30 Minutes or Less delivers!" Can you print that on the cover, Sony? There's still time, right?

While we wait to hear back about my way-too-late and not-that-clever stab at blurb whoredom, I guess I can say something a little more meaningful about 30 Minutes or Less. Hey, you know what sucks more than tooling around in a shitbox '89 Mustang and schlepping around pizzas for minimum wage? Being handed a delivery on the ass-end of town right when you're supposed to be heading home for the night, getting